This breathless report from the Irish Daily Mirror embellishes on a story that needs no amplification. A retired clergyman and art dealer in Ireland was bound and beaten by thieves who had targeted him. The two men communicated with an accomplice who guided them through the works to take only the valuable ones including a Canaletto:

And we have learned the robbers also took his contacts book which is littered with the personal details of wealthy people including members of the Guinness family and multi-millionaire Edward Haughey.

Many contacts already have been warned by the victim, the PSNI and the gardai to up their security following the robbery on January 3. The extent of the theft is still being catalogued but the value of the property is understood to run into the multi-millions.

Great iPhone art robbery: Paintings worth millions stolen to order by gang directed by video phone